Taylor Swift is guaranteed to make history at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards MTV VMAs), but she may not be the only superstar rewriting the ceremony's record book.
More than 35 milestones could be reached during the Sept. 27 ceremony, according to an analysis by ActionNetwork.com. The possibilities range from Swift becoming the most-awarded artist in VMA history to Madonna potentially delivering the most successful night any artist has experienced at the awards.
Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, recognizing her work behind the camera and her influence on music video storytelling. The honorary award will raise her career total to 31 VMAs, breaking her tie with Beyoncé, who has collected 30 awards across her solo career and her work with Destiny's Child and The Carters.
Swift could push that number significantly higher. After MTV added categories including Best Album and Song of Summer, she entered the ceremony with 11 competitive nominations. If she were to win every category, along with receiving the Artist Director honor, she would leave with 42 career VMAs.
One of her biggest opportunities comes in Video of the Year, where "The Fate of Ophelia" could give Swift an unprecedented sixth victory. She previously won the category with "Bad Blood," "You Need to Calm Down," "All Too Well: The Short Film," "Anti-Hero" and "Fortnight."
A victory in Artist of the Year would also make Swift the category's first three-time winner, following her wins in 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, "Opalite" could earn her a fifth Best Direction award, extending her record as the director with the most victories in that category.
Madonna, however, enters the night with the largest number of nominations. The pop icon initially received 11 nods before the addition of Best Album and Best Long Form Video increased her total to 13. Her nominations include Video of the Year and Artist of the Year, as well as Song of the Year for "Bring Your Love," her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter.
If Madonna swept all 13 categories, she would surpass Peter Gabriel's record for the most VMAs won during a single ceremony. Gabriel collected 10 awards in 1987, including the honorary Video Vanguard Award.
Madonna's "Confessions II" alone is nominated for nine awards. A complete sweep would allow it to surpass Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance," which won seven VMAs in 2010, as the most-awarded video by a female artist.
A Video of the Year victory would carry additional historical weight. Madonna last won the category in 1998 for "Ray of Light." Winning again 28 years later would establish the longest gap between Video of the Year victories.
Several younger artists could also deliver category firsts.
Sabrina Carpenter could become the first artist to win Song of the Year twice. She won in 2024 for "Espresso" and is nominated this year alongside Madonna for "Bring Your Love."
Cardi B and Kehlani could make "Safe" the first collaboration between two women to win Best Hip-Hop. Olivia Rodrigo could become the first solo woman to win Best Alternative if "The Cure" takes the category, while Ella Langley could become the first country artist to win Song of the Year with "Choosin' Texas."
The ceremony could also produce several international milestones. Burna Boy could become the first Nigerian artist to win either Best Collaboration or Best Latin through his Shakira collaboration "Dai Dai." Dave and Tems could become the first British and Nigerian artists, respectively, to win Best R&B for "Raindance."
In Best K-Pop, BTS and Lisa are tied with three victories each, meaning either could become the category's first four-time winner. A victory for Lisa's "Dream" could also make Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi the first Japanese artist to win Best K-Pop. Blackpink, Le Sserafim or Katseye, meanwhile, could become the first girl group to capture the award.
Anitta has her own chance to move ahead in Best Latin. The Brazilian star is tied with J Balvin at three victories and could claim the category record outright with a win for "Choka Choka," her collaboration with Shakira.
Hosted by Snoop Dogg, the 2026 VMAs will air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS, with a simulcast on MTV and streaming through Paramount+. Madonna is scheduled to open the show, marking her first VMA performance in 23 years
